BILL STOUDT 

Gregg County Judge 

April 28, 2015 

The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

Secretary of Transportation 

U. S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretaries Foxx and Kerry: 

(903) 236-8420 

(903) 237-2699 Facsimile 

101 E. Methvin St., Suite 300 

Longview, Texas 75601 

The Honorable John F. Kerry 

Secretary of State 

U.S. Department of State 

2201 C Street NW 

Washington, DC 20520 

Earlier this month, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines, as well as the largest unions in 

the airline industry, announced a partnership to encourage the U. S. Government to level the playing 

field for fair competition with the government-subsidized, state-owned airlines of Qatar and the United 

Arab Emirates (UAE). Fueled by massive subsidies, these governments' carriers have been expanding at 

a rapid pace in order to divert traffic through their own hubs. This subsidized expansion is distorting the 

international aviation marketplace. Importantly, this unfair competition i~ threatening the airline routes 

and jobs that we depend on in Gregg County, Texas and across the country. 

The state-owned Gulf airlines- Qatar Airways, Etihad Ai;ways, and Emirates Airlines- have collectively 

received at least $42 billion dollars in government subsidies and other unfair benefits over. the last ten 

years. The economic development strategies that their governments are pursuing through subsidization 

contradict Open Skies policy, which is predicated on fair competition, undistorted by government 

actions, including subsidies. Open Skies policies have allowed for greater access and growth of the 

aviation industry in the United States, to the benefit of U. S. travelers and the U. S. economy, but these 

tactics by the Gulf airlines and their state sponsors have created an un-level playing field. If we allow 

this to continue, citizens of Gregg County, Texas will ultimately lose out. 

Because these Gulf carriers are highly subsidized, they have grown at astounding rates, rapidly 

expanding their fleets and routes untethered to commercial realities (profits). If we stand by and allow 

this unfair competition to continue, the service to small and mid-sized communities that we depend on 

will suffer as our domestic airlines are forced to curtail flights . 

If our U. S. airlines are pushed off international routes and lose market share t o the government-owned 

Gulf airlines, it will mean American job losses. Every international roundtrip flight that is lost results in 

an average net loss of 821 good U.S. job- think of all the pilots, flight attendants, maintenance workers, 

baggage crew, ticketing agents, and others that are involved in a single overseas route. They and others 

whose livelihoods depend on a healthy U. S. airline industry are the people who have the most to lose if 

this issue is not addressed. · 

s 10-150505-033 
U. S. Open Skies policy has served the citizens of Gregg County, Texas well. Please help to keep all Open 

Skies agreements open and fair by addressing the subsidies that are being provided to these three 

carriers. 

7~~~ st:tJudt 

Gregg County Judge 

Cc: U.S. Senator John Cornyn 

#517 Hart Senate Building 

Washington, D. C. 20510 

U. S. Congressman Louie Gohmert 

2440 House Office Building 

Washington, D. C. 20515 

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz 

Dirksen Senate Building, #185 

Washington, D. C. 20510 

s 1 0-150505-033 
BILL STOUDT 

Gregg County Judge 

101 E. Methvin St., Suite 300 

Longview, Texas 7560 I 

s 10-150505-033 

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The Honorable Anthony R. Foxx 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE 

Washington, D. C. 20590 

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